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In A Tessa House

Catia

Well-Known Member
Closing is contingent upon survey, & since it is cheaper to have it all done at once, I opted to have it both surveyed & staked.
So, * if * something is off & the property line does come through the house, the sale is off, unless some type of agreement can be made with encroachments/easements etc...
Which all seems quite complicated.

This is a rural area, but this house is on the main road, the house being VERY close to the road, meaning house sits maybe 10-12 feet off the road!

While the bottom potion where the house sits is level, maybe about 30 feet deep x 125 feet across is level-- the rear portion remainder of the rest of the yard literally goes up mountain.
I haven't yet had a chance to go over there & see if any of the mountainy part it is climbable, I'm sure there's a trail somewhere.

I need to begin the process of figuring out what type of fence I want/can afford.
I seriously doubt I can afford to fence the entire lot at once, so will 1st focus on the level portion.

Also, due to current health issues, I cannot DIY like I used to, so I will have to pay for installation, which totally SUCKS, because from what I am reading, fence installation is EXPENSIVE.

It seems I have a few options, there is always the (ugly) standard chainlink, and something I do not know much about called "no climb"--
Lucky for me, at this point in Tessa's life, she does NOT appear to be an escape artist. But my current tiny back yard has 6 foot stockade fence.
I do not know how she would be with open view & chainlink.
I may be limited in the height of the fence to 4 feet, due to ordinances, but should be able to apply for a variance.
Lot is non conforming to begin with, & since not in the town proper, & rural, I should not have the same hassels as the 'keepin up with the jones's' properties, but being that it's main road, I'll really have to look into everything, & make friends with the people at the township ;).

There are some seriously wealthy people in this township who own a ton of land & beautiful houses, & have private roads leading to them.
One being the people who own the land behind my house. I've been using google maps satellite to check it out.

So--wooden fence is going to be cost prohibitive since I cannot DIY--anyone have experience with "no climb"????
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Not sure what is meant by a "no climb" fence. However if you can get someone to help you doing chain link panels is easist (thats what we're doing to expand our fenced area). You can get 6' high by 10' panels for fairly cheaply in comparison (or really really cheaply on craigslist) and then you just need someone to help you put up the posts to hold it in place (might even be worth seeing if the fencing company would do posts for you and then get someone to help you tie in the panels). We have to get a permit to do 6' (4' woudln't require a permit) here, but both my two are capable of going over a 4' fence no problem so yah.....
 

Mooshi's Mummy

Well-Known Member
In our front yard we have a white picket fence about 4 foot high and rather than being flat at the top of the pickets or rounded we have them pointed and they are about 2 inches apart. Moo isn't an escape artist either and picket fencing is cheap and pretty. Because it's at the front of the property i never leave my two unattended but they have never tried to chew or escape either. My back yard is concrete board 3 foot below ground and about the same above and then it's panel fence and post. My husband and I did the work but it was hard slog but not too expensive. Due to lay of land we range from 6 to 8 foot. Totally enclosed and secure.
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Apparently 'no climb' is a type of fence used in rural areas for livestock & horses--You can get it at farming supply places & tractor supply--it is supposed to be able to withstand horse hooves etc--of course depending on the gauge. It is a less costly alternative to chain link for people with large areas to fence.
I found out about it on a farming site. Everyone refers to it as 'no climb' so it's not a brand name, it's a type of fence.

No-Climb Horse Fence Welded Wire

Agricultural fencing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Picket fencing is too expensive here, been there, done that before--it has to be pressure/chemical treated or the winters & carpenter ants will kill it. That raises the price a LOT.
This is mountainous region with long winters.

Any farmers on our site?
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
ah! now I recognize it, just be carefull, some of that type of fencing are designed so that the openings are flexible (the wires slide a bit) so that a horse or cow is less likely to get caught, but it means that a clever dog could work the openings big enough for a head.....
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Ya, I was reading about the different kinds of fence & 'the rules'--you can put a cow behind deer fence, but cannot put a deer behind cow fence etc--
if I hit the lottery I'd do cast iron fence, but it'd probably look ridiculous with a tiny saltbox!!!

House is literally 800 sq ft living space at best. I've always been fascinated with small houses, & I love to read about the tiny house movement.
This will be my step in that direction.
Though I must say, 800sq ft is a mansion compared to the tiny house people living with under 200 sq ft!

It feels very 'cathartic'--I'll be getting rid of a LOT of stuff & just keeping the bare bones basics, & I am looking forward to that, dropping the dead weight.
However all of that sorting through stuff is going to be a LOT of work!
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Update on the 'Tessa House'.

Survey is done & all is good, the property lines do not go through the house as the GIS maps indicated, GIS was 20+ feet off :)

I am supposed to have my final walk thru tomorrow (Saturday) at noon, & close at 1pm-weather permitting.

So I think I got a pretty sweet deal.
It is a 1 owner house, built in 1941, owner lived there until she was 97 yrs old!
1/3 acre, house & garage on a country road.
Move in condition.

And, if all goes well tomorrow, I snagged this little house for...wait for it...........................$16k...

What does a $16k house on a country road look like you ask???

Tessa House.jpg
tessa house2.jpg
 

dpenning

Well-Known Member
Absolutely love it! Can you keep the for sale sign for your Tessa House sign? Congrats!

Update on the 'Tessa House'.

Survey is done & all is good, the property lines do not go through the house as the GIS maps indicated, GIS was 20+ feet off :)

I am supposed to have my final walk thru tomorrow (Saturday) at noon, & close at 1pm-weather permitting.

So I think I got a pretty sweet deal.
It is a 1 owner house, built in 1941, owner lived there until she was 97 yrs old!
1/3 acre, house & garage on a country road.
Move in condition.

And, if all goes well tomorrow, I snagged this little house for...wait for it...........................$16k...

What does a $16k house on a country road look like you ask???

View attachment 38967
View attachment 38968
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Cayeesmom---older house??? hah! You almost made me spit my coffee--
It never occurred to me this would be considered an older house when I wrote built in 1941.

In my mind this *IS* a pretty new house --my other houses are well over 110 yrs old-which is very common in my area (Pittsburgh/Mon Valley).
If it's built after 1900--it's newer.

What's great about this house is that it had 1 owner & hasn't been fuddled with much, which means less hassel for me-
It is 'bare bones' basic--& the owner took really great care of it. No ugly wall paper to strip, no drop ceilings, no 1/2 assed remodeling that I'd have to rip out.

When I walked into the house, I was really surprised, even though it was empty, & basic, the house felt like it had a lotta 'love' in it, it has a definite 'vibe'-- felt like 'home'.

When was looking up the history of the house, I found the previous owners obituary & some other pieces of info.
She was a sweet little lady, widowed young, beautiful even into her old age, I found pics of her online.
She raised her daughter there, & she loved to bake & garden, was active in her church, had many friends, had grand children & great grand children & family reunions there.

Actually, I am going to print one of her pics & mat it nicely in an old frame & keep it in the house, because she belongs there.

Well, I gotta get ready, of course it snowed twice as much as was forcasted, the roads here are CRAP & I've got an hour long drive.
I have to find an alternate route incase the 1 mountain road, which is the main road, is insanely steep & is banked crazily on it's curves is not plowed.
Even in the best weather, that road feels like you're on a roller coaster, speed limit is actually 10mph for a stretch...
 

cayeesmom

Well-Known Member
Cayeesmom---older house??? hah! You almost made me spit my coffee--
It never occurred to me this would be considered an older house when I wrote built in 1941.

Well I guess you could refer to it as mature at 73 instead of older, lol. Either way it's very cute.
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
UGh UGH UGH---

Closing was postponed. :(

Apparently when the seller (owner's daughter) called to get water final reading, on Friday, the water company decided to go to the property & turned the water off, then back on at the street, & the line ruptured.
Water company did not inform anyone, just shut it off, so no one knew why the water was off in the 1st place.


Responsibility falls on seller because they are supposed to maintain the home in it's original condition as of the date the contract was signed.

I had 2 agents & the closing attorney pressuring me & the owner really hard to close without being able to inspect the plumbing with the water on, but that was NOT part of our agreement.

The closing atty tried to talk me into accepting a $300 escrow from the seller in the event of a plumbing issue--, & didn't even consult with the owner on this...

Three men at the table just wanting to push it through, with quite a bit of an air that "the little 'women' were 'holding things up for no reason"....
They didn't say that, but they didn't need to either.

Owner however was NOT pressuring, she said we'd just wait--she also felt the inspection should be proper with the water on.
The men were trying to ignore what she & I were hashing out at the table, & over talk us while we were deciding what to do.
Owner then offered to take me to lunch while we waited for the water company to come out & turn the service on, so I accepted & off we went.

None of us expected there to be any issue, but we were just making sure. Men hate that....

Anyway, I know these things can get ugly, & I am hoping that doesn't happen.
Good thing is that it is not a long line from the tap in from the main to the house, since the house so close to the road-it's less than 15 feet & a straight line, but has to be dug out.

Damn weather--it's been one of the worst & longest deep freezes we have ever had.
Many deeply buried lines have burst around here, every week there are a couple of water main breaks on the news, some blowing up entire roads, & as soon as they fix that section, another blows...

On the up side, the owner's daughter is a really nice lady & I was getting an interesting history on the house & her family.
She offered to come out in the spring so she can show me where certain shrubs & flower gardens are & tell me how to take care of them.
She was very forthcoming about different problems with the house, like cold spots & things that had been repaired & things that will need repaired.
She's funny & sweet & someone it'd be nice to have coffee with, so maybe I made my 1st friend in my new neighborhood, if this incident doesn't put a strain on things.


Also, I learned there were 4 kids & when they were young there was 5-6 people living in the tiny house!
Her father passed in 1961, it was just the kids & mom after that.
Her mother was a very healthy woman & mowed the grass herself into her 90's!

So here's hoping everything gets fixed & that the cost isn't too high, & that the rescheduled closing goes smoothly.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Well at least the seller is an awesome person!

We've had frozen pipes twice this winter, but thankfully not out in the main line, so no serious digging required!
 

raechiemay

Well-Known Member
I'm just now seeing this...YAY & bummer :( I hope they get everything fixed for you & your closing comes sooner than expected. Even in Texas we've been dealing with busted pipes *knock on wood* not in my house or anyone in my family's houses but it's been happening. Sending good vibes your way! :)
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
Sorry about the hiccup during the closing, but sounds it will be resolved soon enough.

I just think the house is adorable-- it even has a porch! Looks like it will be nice and shady, too, with the greenery around.

Congratulations- I'm sure Tessa will love her new digs. :)
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Another neat little tidbit of history I got about the house-from the daughter--it has had 2 owners.

I feel it 'maturing' LOL

The original builder was a Dr , & he built it as a 2 room cottage with attic bedroom & basement. It was built for his patients as a healing retreat.
This cottage was used for mill workers from Pittsburgh who got sick from breathing bad air/mill soot because it was so bad here.
They'd stay for a month or so, live there & get healthy breathing the cleaner country air.

I'm gonna look up the name she gave me & see if I can find any pics of the original cottage, something like that might have made it to the local paper & there is a historical society right down the road.
Also want to see if the daughter has some old pics.

The owner's father bought it & put an additional 2 rooms on it. & this is how it is today.
It now has oil heat, but was originally coal until maybe 10 yrs ago.